Spatial variability and influencing factors of soil catalase activity in grapevine fields in Huailai-Zhuolu Basin

This study assessed the physicochemical factors influencing the spatial variability of soil catalase activity in grapevine fields. 83 samples of 0~20 cm soil layer was collected from grapevine fields in the Huailai-Zhuolu basin (HZB) of Hebei, China. Geostatistics and GIS environments were used to analyze the spatial variability of soil catalase activity for different combinations of grape variety and soil property. Also the contributing factors to enzyme activity were analyzed. The results showed strongly spatial correlation of catalase activity in 0~20 cm soil layer of grapevine field in HZB. The variations of catalase activity in the study area tracked a zonal distribution, gradually decreasing from west to east along river courses. Based on semi-variance analysis, the best-fitted model for soil catalase activity distribution in the study area was an exponential model. With the exception of potassium, all macro-elements, micro-elements, quantitative elements, heavy metals and other beneficial elements had a significant positive activation effect on soil catalase activity in grapevine fields. In traditional soil-grape cropping systems, catalase activity was closely correlated with the distribution characteristics of most elements at different locations in grapevine fields. Also a significant positive correlation was noted between catalase activity and fine sand content. A highly significant positive correlation was noted between catalase activity and clay. The physical properties, especially clay and fine sand content, were other critical factors that influenced the spatial variability of soil catalase activity. Ggrape varieties and soil pH were not correlated with spatial variability of soil catalase activity.